BANK OF AMERICA 500 RETURNS TO SUNDAY AFTERNOON

For the Bank of America 500, “Daylight Racing Time” is back with the race returning to a Sunday afternoon start time in 2017.

This important piece of information was made available in an announcement on Thursday by the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

As such, the fourth race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffsand first race in the Round of 12 will now be held on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. ET. This will be provided full TV coverage on the NBC.

Initially, the earlier announced date was Saturday, Oct. 7. However, to allow for a better on-track competition as well as a more family-friendly schedule over a three-day weekend, the date was dropped and another date was chosen.

In a recent track release, Jimmie Johnson, seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion and defending Bank of America 500 winner had a few things to say about Charlotte.

“Charlotte’s so tricky, especially when the sun’s out,” he said

“And, the track’s finally aging and getting to a place with a lot of character (so) that a day race will allow us to run so many more lanes and, I think, create such an entertaining and compelling race … I’m really excited for a hot, slick, day race,” he concluded.

The races in the past two years yet, have been moved from Saturday to Sunday. This is due to the inclement weather. Ever since the 2002, the race has not ever been scheduled for the daytime.

For this year’s schedule, the likes of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying to be held on Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. ET,and the XFINITY Series Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 7, televised on NBCSN.